Stephen Harper's ex-spokesman admits he wrongly suggested Muslim group had terrorist tiesGroup wanted public retraction, damages up to $100,000 and injunction preventing words from being republished

Former prime minister Stephen Harper's one-time communications director admits he was inaccurate when he suggested a Canadian Muslim group had ties to a terrorist organization.

Jason MacDonald makes the admission as part of a settlement in a libel suit launched two years ago by the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

The lawsuit was prompted by comments MacDonald made to the now-defunct Sun News Network after the council complained about a controversial rabbi who accompanied Harper on an official trip to the Middle East.

MacDonald dismissed the council's concerns on behalf of the Harper government, and accused the organization of having links to terrorism.